Business Day Spotlight

MTN’s financial performance for the six month to end June 2024, is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Tsholofelo Molefe, group CFO at MTN. Through the discussion, Molefe outlines the company’s interim results; challenges that pulled down earnings; the impact of weaker currencies; and the group’s strategy to weather the current storm. Business Day S...

The use of data to to improve customer experiences, a means to push up sales and other business outcomes, is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Tammy Wilson-Schultz, chief strategy officer at Wavemaker SA Wilson-Schultz highlights Wavemaker’s business model; the trend of data led customer engagement; strategies used to boost engagement and sales fo...

Cell C’s move to refreshe its brand image is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Jorge Mendes, CEO at Cell C. The discussion highlights Cell C’s rebranding; how the mobile operator is looking to position itself in the market; plans to better compete; the value and perception of its brand; and an outlook for the mobile provider going forward. Busines...

The state of SA’s economy three months after the general election is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Sanisha Packirisamy, chief economist at Momentum Investments Group. The discussion highlights Momentum’s SA economic report for July; market perceptions of SA’s GNU; policy reforms needed to restore confidence over the long term; impact of electi...

The growth in SA’s hotel and conferencing is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Gary Koetser, CEO of Century City Conference Centre and Hotels (CCCCH). The discussion highlights the growth of conferencing Cape Town’s competitive market; CCCCH’s business model; investment into the company’s facilities; and an outlook for the sector. Business Day Spo...

Standard Banks’s technology talent investment is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Gerald Perumal, head of strategy and enablement for Standard Bank’s technology division. The banker highlights the place of hackathon’s in Standard Bank’s talent acquisition and product development strategy; the bank’s current technology investment philosophy; staff...

A push to expand s is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Bongani Sithole, CEO of 54 Collective. Topics of discussion include: 54 Collective’s rebranding; strategy for investing in African startups; the state of venture capital investment on the continent; and the influence of high interest rates on startup funding. Business Day Spotlight is a Multi...

The security risks associated with digital payments is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Chris Boxall, FNB’s head of card transact and fraud detection. Topics of discussion include: the growth of digital payments; trend in payments technology; ways in which people are being targeted; different methods of attack and compromise; and how people can p...

The economics of tokenisation financial assets and instruments is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Wiehann Olivier, a partner and fintech & digital asset lead at Forvis Mazars in SA. Topics of discussion include: how tokenisation has developed over time; value of the Etherium blockchain; asset classes suited to this type of interaction; adoption...

Online learnings platforms that continue to grow beyond the pandemic years is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Lauren Anderson, co-founder and CEO of Koa Academy. Through the discussion, Anderson outlines Koa’s business model; drivers of growth; the company’s investment in technology; learning trends; and the place of artificial intelligence (AI)...

The state of savings in SA is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Babalwa Nonkenge, head of retail investments at Nedbank. Topics of discussion include: challenges in having funds for saving in the country; the economic reality for many South African; ways in which people have more financial discipline; trends in personal finance; and the support th...

A look at the SA's economy, two months after a historic election result, from an investor’s perspective is the focus of this edition of Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Jacques Conradie, CEO of Peregrine Capital. Through the discussion, Conradie outlines Peregrine’s investment strategy leading up to elections; reviews the performance of its funds in the first half of 2024; t...

MTN’s technology strategy and investment is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Mazen Mroue, group chief technology and information officer at MTN. The discussion highlights: technology planning for MTN; deployment of 5G technology; closing coverage gaps in rural areas; the place of satellite; and artificial intelligence (AI). Business Day Spotl...

Increasing interoperability between mobile money and card systems as a means to broaden Africa’s access to the global financial system is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Christian Bwakira, group chief commercial officer at Onafriq. The discussion highlights: Onafriq’s efforts to increase mobile money penetration in Africa; challenges faced b...

Radisson’s plans to grow its hotel business in SA is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight.  Topics of discussion include: Trappler highlights Radisson’s business model; plans for growth; the impact of a macroeconomic downturn on the travel sector; funding growth in a high interest rate environment; and factors driving traffic to hotels.  Business Day Spotlight is a MultimediaLIV...

Demand for billions of rand in sustainable finance does not yet match the urgency of climate change, says Absa’s head of responsible finance, heaping pressure on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government to push through policies aimed at bridging the gap. In this episode Business Day Deputy Editor Tiisetso Motsoeneng is joined by chief sustainability officer at Absa Punki Modise.

Cisco’s strategy to continue growing its business in SA in economic downturn is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Smangele Nkosi, GM of Cisco SA, at the company’s offices in Midrand’s Waterfall Precinct. Topics of discussion include: Cisco’s current position in SA; global position around AI; the company’s current technology investments; relati...

The economics around reading and increasing literacy in SA takes centre stage in this focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Chris de Beer, director at Qualibooks Group. Topics of discussion include: Qualibooks business model; trends around reading and literacy in SA; effort to improve literacy rates; challenges around access to reading material; and t...

Raising capital through tokenisation, underpinned by blockchain technology, is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight.  Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Connie Bloem, co-founder and executive head at Mesh. Trade. The discussion highlights: raising capital through tokenisation; Mesh. Trade’s business model; how tokens are being applied to real-world assets and fund raising; global t...

The evolution of SweepSout’s business over 10 years in SA is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by the team from SweepSouth: Aisha Pandor, co-founder and former CEO; and Lourandi Kriel, the new CEO. The discussion highlights: the development of SweepSouth's business over the last decade; profitability; growth plans; opportunities available in diff...

Instant payment for businesses in SA is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by a team from Standard Bank’s corporate and investment bank: Stuart McDermid, executive head for product solutions, together with Nthabiseng Mohale, manager for interbank and regulator forums. The discussion highlights: Standard Bank’s instant payments platform for corpora...

The growth of index tracking backed investments in the realm of employee and corporate funds is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Kgotso Thipa, head of investment distribution and servicing at Liberty Corporate Benefits. The discussion highlights: the size of Liberty’s index tracking portfolios; how passive investment strategies contribute to...

The economics of SA’s funeral insurance sector in 2024 is the focus in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Clinton Macdonald from KGA Life. The discussion looks at: economics of funeral insurance in SA; headwinds facing the industry; competition; technology investment; and an outlook for the sector. Business Day Spotlight is a MultimediaLIVE Production.

Strategies around banking technology, in service of greater financial inclusion, in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Heidi Custers, digital transformation director at Backbase. The discussion examines some of the fundamental shifts banks can take towards servicing customers better; demographic factors working in favour of Africa; the mobile money revoluti...

The use of technology to increase power savings in the home in this edition of the Business Day Spotlight. Host Mudiwa Gavaza is joined by Jon Kornik, co-founder and CEO of Plentify. Topics of discussion include: Plentify’s business model; power consumption trends in SA; the move to increase power usage efficiency; the opportunity for smart home based businesses; and how the company has funded its...